Segmented Frame for a Storage Drive

1. A segmented frame adapted to receive a storage drive, comprising: a plurality of linked frame segments configured to pivot with respect to each other and wrap around the storage drive, with a first frame segment and a last frame segment of the plurality of linked frame segments latching together to form a joined segmented frame and hold the storage drive; and a plurality of isolator cups trapped within the joined segmented frame and fitting over a corresponding plurality of mounting wings extending from the storage drive, wherein the plurality of isolator cups suspend the storage drive within the joined frame.

2. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the plurality of linked frame segments including pairs of spaced-apart bulwarks, with a pair of spaced-apart bulwarks trapping an isolator cup in a corner of the joined frame and thereby holding a mounting wing of the storage drive.

3. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the plurality of isolator cups being formed of an elastomeric material or a viscoelastomeric material.

4. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with an isolator cup of the plurality of isolator cups including a plurality of compressible ridges on an external surface or surfaces.

5. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the storage drive being substantially rectangular and with the joined frame comprising four linked frame sections joined to form a substantially rectangular frame corresponding to the storage drive, wherein the joined segmented frame holds the storage drive at the four corners of the storage drive and wherein a sway space exists between the joined segmented frame and the storage drive outside of the corners.

6. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the frame configured to be received in a storage drive bay of a sled frame.

7. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the frame configured to be received in a storage drive bay of a sled frame and with side frame sections of the plurality of linked frame sections including one or more resistance elements that contact a side member of a storage drive bay of the sled frame and counteract a weight of the storage drive when the storage drive and the joined segmented frame are inserted into the storage drive bay.

8. The segmented frame of claim 1 , with the segmented frame further comprising: one or more riser apertures formed in a bottom frame segment; and one or more corresponding isolator systems installed in the one or more riser apertures and extending outward from the bottom frame segment, with an isolator system comprising: a riser block configured to be affixed in a riser aperture of the segmented frame, with the riser block including one or more damper receptacles and one or more corresponding central shafts extending up at least partially through the one or more damper receptacles; one or more elastomeric dampers comprising substantially cylindrical bodies and central bores extending partially through the bodies, with the one or more elastomeric dampers fitting over the one or more shafts and into the damper receptacles, with the one or more elastomeric dampers being formed of an at least partially elastomeric material; and one or more coil springs located over the one or more elastomeric dampers, wherein the one or more elastomeric dampers and the one or more coil springs compress in response to force.

9. A storage drive system, comprising: a storage drive comprising a body and a plurality of mounting wings protruding from the body; a plurality of linked frame segments configured to pivot with respect to each other and wrap around the storage drive, with a first frame segment and a last frame segment of the plurality of linked frame segments latching together to form a joined segmented frame and hold the storage drive; and a plurality of isolator cups trapped within the joined segmented frame and fitting over the corresponding plurality of mounting wings extending from the storage drive, wherein the plurality of isolator cups suspend the storage drive within the joined frame.

10. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the plurality of linked frame segments including pairs of spaced-apart bulwarks, with a pair of spaced-apart bulwarks trapping an isolator cup in a corner of the joined frame and thereby holding a mounting wing of the storage drive.

11. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the plurality of isolator cups being formed of an elastomeric material or a viscoelastomericmaterial.

12. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with an isolator cup of the plurality of isolator cups including a plurality of compressible ridges on an external surface or surfaces.

13. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the storage drive being substantially rectangular and with the joined frame comprising four linked frame sections joined to form a substantially rectangular frame corresponding to the storage drive, wherein the joined segmented frame holds the storage drive at the four corners of the storage drive and wherein a sway space exists between the joined segmented frame and the storage drive outside of the corners.

14. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the frame configured to be received in a storage drive bay of a sled frame.

15. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the frame configured to be received in a storage drive bay of a sled frame and with side frame sections of the plurality of linked frame sections including one or more resistance elements that contact a side member of a storage drive bay of the sled frame and counteract a weight of the storage drive when the storage drive and the joined segmented frame are inserted into the storage drive bay.

16. The storage drive system of claim 9 , with the segmented frame further comprising: one or more riser apertures formed in a bottom frame segment; and one or more corresponding isolator systems installed in the one or more riser apertures and extending outward from the bottom frame segment, with an isolator system comprising: a riser block configured to be affixed in a riser aperture of the segmented frame, with the riser block including one or more damper receptacles and one or more corresponding central shafts extending up at least partially through the one or more damper receptacles; one or more elastomeric dampers comprising substantially cylindrical bodies and central bores extending partially through the bodies, with the one or more elastomeric dampers fitting over the one or more shafts and into the damper receptacles, with the one or more elastomeric dampers being formed of an at least partially elastomeric material; and one or more coil springs located over the one or more elastomeric dampers, wherein the one or more elastomeric dampers and the one or more coil springs compress in response to force.

17. A storage drive sled, comprising: a sled frame including a plurality of storage drive bays configured to receive a plurality of joined segmented frames; a frame cap configured to be affixed to the sled frame and close off the plurality of storage drive bays; and one or more storage drive systems installed into the plurality of drive bays, with a storage drive system of the one or more storage drive systems comprising: a storage drive comprising a body and a plurality of mounting wings protruding from the body; a plurality of linked frame segments configured to pivot with respect to each other and wrap around the storage drive, with a first frame segment and a last frame segment of the plurality of linked frame segments latching together to form a joined segmented frame and hold the storage drive; and a plurality of isolator cups trapped within the joined segmented frame and fitting over the corresponding plurality of mounting wings extending from the storage drive, wherein the plurality of isolator cups suspend the storage drive within the joined frame.

18. The storage drive sled of claim 17 , with the storage drive being substantially rectangular and with the joined frame comprising four linked frame sections joined to form a substantially rectangular frame corresponding to the storage drive, wherein the joined segmented frame holds the storage drive at the four corners of the storage drive and wherein a sway space exists between the joined segmented frame and the storage drive outside of the corners.

19. The storage drive sled of claim 17 , with side frame sections of the plurality of linked frame sections including one or more resistance elements that contact a side member of a storage drive bay of the sled frame and counteract a weight of the storage drive when the storage drive and the joined segmented frame are inserted into the storage drive bay.

20. The storage drive sled of claim 17 , with the segmented frame further comprising: one or more riser apertures formed in a bottom frame segment; and one or more corresponding isolator systems installed in the one or more riser apertures and extending outward from the bottom frame segment, with an isolator system comprising: a riser block configured to be affixed in a riser aperture of the segmented frame, with the riser block including one or more damper receptacles and one or more corresponding central shafts extending up at least partially through the one or more damper receptacles; one or more elastomeric dampers comprising substantially cylindrical bodies and central bores extending partially through the bodies, with the one or more elastomeric dampers fitting over the one or more shafts and into the damper receptacles, with the one or more elastomeric dampers being formed of an at least partially elastomeric material; and one or more coil springs located over the one or more elastomeric dampers, wherein the one or more elastomeric dampers and the one or more coil springs compress in response to force.